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Landsvirkjun, the University of Iceland and Reykjavík University promote university education and research on renewable energy sources

1. July 2013

Photograph: Seated from the left: Ari Kristinn Jónsson, Rector of Reykjavík University, Hörður Arnarson, CEO of Landsvirkjun and Kristín Ingólfsdóttir, Rector of the University of Iceland sign the cooperation agreement during an official ceremony held by Landsvirkjun. Standing from the left: Guðrún Arnbjörg Sævarsdóttir, Dean of the School of Science and Engineering at the Reykjavík University, Óli Grétar Blöndal Sveinsson, Executive Vice President of the Research and Development Division within Landsvirkjun, Ragna Sara Jónsdóttir, Director of the Policy for Social Responsibility and Hilmar Bragi Janusson, Head of the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences at the University of Iceland.

Landsvirkjun has pledged 80 million to university education, over a five year period, to promote university education and research in geochemistry, electric power engineering and other academic disciplines within the universities.

Landsvirkjun, Reykjavík University and the University of Iceland have joined forces to support and encourage the development of expertise within the field of renewable energy. The cooperation will strive to create a source of shared value for Landsvirkjun, the universities and Icelandic society by supporting those disciplines where more education and research are vital.

Hörður Arnarson, CEO of Landsvirkjun, Ari Kristinn Jónsson, Rector of Reykjavík University and Kristín Ingólfsdóttir, Rector of the University of Iceland signed a five year cooperation agreement with the objective of promoting university education and research that will support the development of increased expertise in the field of renewable energy sources and their utilisation.

Hörður Arnarson, CEO of Landsvirkjun stated that “in building a dynamic cooperation between Landsvirkjun and the universities we hope to create shared value for the economy and for society, by sharing expertise and supporting innovation and development in renewable energy sources.”

Cooperation with the University of Iceland

The cooperation agreement with the University of Iceland has the objective of promoting and supporting teaching and research in the disciplines of geochemistry, geology, mechanical and industrial engineering. The University of Iceland has a long established history in building upon its expertise in these fields and the contract is an extension of decades of cooperation between the university and Landsvirkjun in the disciplines of engineering and the natural sciences. An emphasis will be placed on developing expertise in the field of renewable energy sources. Amongst other things, this will be achieved via Landsvirkjun’s financial support for a new academic staff position within the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences at the University of Iceland. Alongside the support provided for this new academic position, the cooperation agreement will also outline new opportunities for Landsvirkjun, the university and Icelandic society. Landsvirkjun will provide a total of 40 million ISK in financial support for this venture within the next five years.

Kristín Ingólfsdóttir, Rector of the University of Iceland stated that “research in renewable energy sources is amongst the most pressing challenges of our times, enabling the world’s nations to produce enough energy for advancement without threatening the climate and the ecosystem. This cooperation is tremendously important and gives the University of Iceland the opportunity to strengthen decades of development in energy science in the fields of geology, engineering and environmental studies. We are therefore very grateful to Landsvirkjun for its support to this important issue.”

Cooperation with Reykjavík University

Landsvirkjun and Reykjavík University will cooperate in promoting research and university education in the field of renewable energy. The university has been actively developing dynamic courses and expertise in technical subjects, including the utilisation and distribution of renewable energy sources, for the last decade. The cooperation is essentially twofold. On the one hand it will promote specialist expertise in areas including production, marketing and the distribution of electricity by, amongst other things, supporting a new academic position in the field of electrical engineering. On the other hand the cooperation will outline a framework for further cooperation in research and the development of related, common projects within all fields at the Reykjavík University. Landsvirkjun will provide a total of 40 million ISK in financial support for this venture within the next five years.

Ari Kristinn Jónsson, Rector of the University of Reykjavík stated that “knowledge, education and research are the foundation for creating future prosperity for Iceland. This is particularly relevant to the utilisation of our natural resources. The production, distribution and utilisation of electricity are key factors in our economy and our quality of life. We therefore celebrate this cooperation with Landsvirkjun designed to promote expertise within these fields. The support that this collaboration will provide will substantially strengthen education and research in electrical engineering.”

This cooperative agreement is in keeping with Landsvirkjun’s policy on social responsibility which strives to create value, respect the environment and Iceland’s natural resources by supporting increased expertise and by ensuring that the positive impact of Landsvirkjun’s operations is also enjoyed by society. One of the objectives of the policy is to create shared value for the economy and society by sharing expertise and supporting innovation and development within these areas. This agreement will increase the flow of expertise and knowledge to both sides and will increase opportunities for newfound expertise and creativity.